What now for Salford?

[Mr Plow 1,089]

Grand  Final runners up last year, Cup runners up this year in a really close game. I hope they can build on it and keep competing 

[Hela Wigmen 1,879]

I’d like to see them keep hold of Watson but I think in the next year or so there will be teams, most likely Wigan and Warrington, circling for him. 

[Scubby 11,683]

9 minutes ago, Hela Wigmen said:

I’d like to see them keep hold of Watson but I think in the next year or so there will be teams, most likely Wigan and Warrington, circling for him. 

If Hull had any sense they would snap him up now.

[Robin Evans 4,175]

Wouldn't be surprised if Powell leaves cas. I think he's run his course there which may impact on hull choice of coach 

[Oxford 4,657]

Okay apart from a new thread Hands off Watto, let's see.  SRD will build again some of which has already happened but being on the right side of when to announce signings they won't say yet. The team (staff) at Salford have shown themselves to be consistently brilliant at this  in terms of who they bring, how they play when at the club and how hard they'll work for each other. You can't make predictions only guesses but at the moment I can only see more of the same ......................................................................................please?

Edited October 18 by Oxford

[Chris22 1,288]

I think Salford's priority should be keeping Ian Watson and the rest of their squad. Apart from Evalds and Flanagan, I can't think of any confirmed departures?

They have a decision about the full back position. Sarginson, Atkin and maybe Chamberlain are long term options, but I wonder if they will be tempted to look at O'Brien again if Toronto aren't in Super League next year.

They really lacked a drop goal specialist yesterday, so a full back with a kicking game (i.e. O' Brien) would solve that. Is Kevin Brown going around again? If not, maybe they'll be in the market for a new half back.

[Oxford 4,657]

2 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

They have a decision about the full back position. Sarginson, Atkin and maybe Chamberlain are long term options, but I wonder if they will be tempted to look at O'Brien again if Toronto aren't in Super League next year.

You should mention Escare too!

[Chris22 1,288]

3 minutes ago, Oxford said:

You should mention Escare too!

D'oh! Of course!

[johnh1 896]

5 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

I think Salford's priority should be keeping Ian Watson and the rest of their squad. Apart from Evalds and Flanagan, I can't think of any confirmed departures?

They have a decision about the full back position. Sarginson, Atkin and maybe Chamberlain are long term options, but I wonder if they will be tempted to look at O'Brien again if Toronto aren't in Super League next year.

They really lacked a drop goal specialist yesterday, so a full back with a kicking game (i.e. O' Brien) would solve that. Is Kevin Brown going around again? If not, maybe they'll be in the market for a new half back.

Dudson and Welham confirmed as going. But big doubts about Inu, Sio, Lussick, Ikahihifo, Pauli Pauli and one or two others. Another big rebuilding job next year.

 

[Oxford 4,657]

1 minute ago, Chris22 said:

D'oh! Of course!

[Oxford 4,657]

2 minutes ago, johnh1 said:

Another big rebuilding job next year.

The usual and if anything convinces Watto  to move on doing that every season. Hopefully the appearance in two finals will help change all that. If he does manage to stay and move SRD into the realm of top 4 regulars etc he will be the Bennet of the North

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon 1,153]

9 minutes ago, Oxford said:

The usual and if anything convinces Watto  to move on doing that every season. Hopefully the appearance in two finals will help change all that. If he does manage to stay and move SRD into the realm of top 4 regulars etc he will be the Bennet of the North

Except for residents of Tasmania, for whom Bennett is the Bennett of the North! 

(With apologies for John Morton, writer of People like us, for borrowing and amending one of his lines)

[moorside roughyed 3,047]

Thay seem to be able to conjure up something from nothing with Watto. Without Watto I'm not too sure. His stock will have risen considerably. The last two seasons Salford have been a revelation. 

[BrisbaneRhino 59]

Agree its nice to see a side competing on what must be very limited resources.  From the outside I thought that with Hastings leaving they'd slide a long way - Watson has done a tremendous job keeping them competitive after losing what appeared to be their most important player by a long way. Usually when teams lose a player with that sort of influence they fall hard.

[The Rocket 846]

Mid to long term the connection they are forging with Welsh Rugby League must be strengthened and developed, taking a game or two there every season. It seems  having a Welsh team playing in Super League has so far been unsuccessful, then as they say :"if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go the mountain."

Let officially or unofficially Salford become the Welsh team in Super League. Think South Sydney Rabbitohs role as the NRL`s and probably Australia`s unofficial and only Aboriginal premier sporting club. The club that all Aboriginal kids want to play for. Johnson, Gagai, Mitchell, Roberts, Reynolds, Sutton, Walker, Paoulo, etc. etc. Let Salford do the same with Wales and then it can start to tap into sponsorship and a Welsh Fan base to ensure their survival and growth. The sydney swans were a p!ss-ant alf club called south melbourne, battling with half a dozen other clubs in inner city Melbourne, they are now one of the richest sporting clubs(god dammit) in Australia based in RL heartland yet catering to those who don`t follow League or either follow afl or have a casual interest in afl. Substitute League for union for Salford in Wales using that ananlogy. That could be a longer term goal for Salford.

Edited October 19 by The Rocket

[To Be Confirmed 19]

1 hour ago, The Rocket said:

Mid to long term the connection they are forging with Welsh Rugby League must be strengthened and developed, taking a game or two there every season. It seems  having a Welsh team playing in Super League has so far been unsuccessful, then as they say :"if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go the mountain."

Let officially or unofficially Salford become the Welsh team in Super League. Think South Sydney Rabbitohs role as the NRL`s and probably Australia`s unofficial and only Aboriginal premier sporting club. The club that all Aboriginal kids want to play for. Johnson, Gagai, Mitchell, Roberts, Reynolds, Sutton, Walker, Paoulo, etc. etc. Let Salford do the same with Wales and then it can start to tap into sponsorship and a Welsh Fan base to ensure their survival and growth. The sydney swans were a p!ss-ant alf club called south melbourne, battling with half a dozen other clubs in inner city Melbourne, they are now one of the richest sporting clubs(god dammit) in Australia based in RL heartland yet catering to those who don`t follow League or either follow afl or have a casual interest in afl. Substitute League for union for Salford in Wales using that ananlogy. That could be a longer term goal for Salford.

Salford have recently forged a relationship with Welsh Rugby League and has a formal affiliation with some colleges who specialise in sport in wales. This was all over the press in the last week or so. Gareth Kear (Elliots Dad) is heavily involved with the link up.

[HarrogateKnights 595]

Possibly play Wigan on Friday? Direct answer to the question 

[Hullfan 322]

Kris Welham is signing for Featherstone 

[Oxford 4,657]

1 hour ago, Hullfan said:

Kris Welham is signing for Featherstone 

Yes and he's been a brilliant signing, center won't be the problem next year  & coach searching another level entirely!

[Pie tries 548]

Rugby League has been doing it tough in recent years (isn’t it always) so have Salford.

However, they way Salford have conducted themselves is fabulous; they’ve kept their fans onside and are a true community club.

next statement of intent is to open an u19s and build their own pipeline for Salford juniors,

[The Rocket 846]

29 minutes ago, Pie tries said:

Rugby League has been doing it tough in recent years (isn’t it always) so have Salford.

However, they way Salford have conducted themselves is fabulous; they’ve kept their fans onside and are a true community club.

next statement of intent is to open an u19s and build their own pipeline for Salford juniors,

I like the sound of this club. Good Luck.

[sweaty craiq 996]

I hope Salford have the backing to start next season, it looks like a clear out of the higher paid is going on behind closed doors

[Oxford 4,657]

15 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said:

I hope Salford have the backing to start next season, it looks like a clear out of the higher paid is going on behind closed doors

Who do you think is going as part of a higher paid clearout?

And if it's behind closed doors what's your evidence?

 

[fighting irish 1,353]

1 hour ago, Oxford said:

Who do you think is going as part of a higher paid clearout?

And if it's behind closed doors what's your evidence?

 

Sweaty! Hell hath no fury like a SRD fan scorned with unsubstantiated rumours!!!!! Think on, listen and learn.

[Hammerless Nail 369]

What now for Salford? Well, this thread has already gone through the loss of the coach, players having to leave and not having the money to start next season. We just need a name change and being forced out of the stadium to give us a full house. Y'know, the usual.

Realistically, I think Salford fans can be cautiously optimistic, at least for 2021. Before the start of this season, Ian Watson predicted that, with so many new players coming in, they'd struggle a bit early on, but would eventually come good. That's exactly what happened. However, the recent finals appearances should make it easier to retain players (I believe Josh Jones admitted in an interview that had he known Salford would reach the Grand Final, he wouldn't have signed for Hull - that said, it seems that had he known Hull was further away from St Helens than his Nan's, he wouldn't have signed for them either). Thus far, I think the only confirmed departures from the core first team squad are Mark Flanagan (retiring), Gil Dudson (Catalans) and Niall Evalds (been kicked in the head by a horse), although it's expected that Kris Welham will either retire or go to play part time (Featherstone has been mentioned - cracking signing for them: he's a hugely underrated player). Some of their replacements are already playing for, or have been training with, the club (Kallum Watkins, Morgan Escare), which means they should, hopefully, go into 2021 with a more settled squad than the one they came into 2020 with.